On Wednesday, June 6th, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is set to vote on one of two motions that would approve the expansion of UC Santa Cruz while imposing conditions on the availability of water service to the Upper Campus. Community members have planned for a 5-mile walk after the meeting to the UCSC administration, and then to the forest, if a decision is reached permitting development in the Upper Campus.

UCSC’s Long Range Development Plan threatens to build on 240 acres of forest and chaparral habitat in the Upper Campus, requiring over 250 million additional gallons of water per year from the city — a threat to endangered fish populations in local streams and to the water supply of Santa Cruz. Concerns over UCSC expansion helped gain momentum for the successful Right to Vote on Desal petition drive, and organizations such as Long Range Resistance and Teach the Forest have organized a number of awareness raising talks and events.

The June 6th vote is a continuance of the March 7th LAFCO discussion where a motion was introduced that includes stronger conditions that the City will have to meet before additional services can be provided to UCSC.

Read More | See also: Protection of Natural Habitat Concerns Those at "Water, Desal and the UCSC Expansion" Talk | "Forest Show" Helps Raise Awareness About Development of UC Santa Cruz Upper Campus